The KEF Q100 is a bookshelf speaker sporting KEF's 5.25" UniQ driver in a relatively small ported enclosure, and claims a low frequency extension of 49Hz (-3dB). The bottom model in the Q series, the Q100 is priced at $550, a relatively competitive bracket in the world of loudspeakers. Does the diminutive Q100 have what it takes to hold its own, or is it just a me-too bookshelf speaker in a sea of choices? Read on to see what I think.
Executive Overview
Now some might ask why I'd preview the Q100; it's not exactly a new product, so what makes it special? Right off the bat, a visual inspection of the Q100 will reveal that it's not just another me-too product; the Q100 utilizes KEF's UniQ driver architecture, which in this instance mounts a 1" aluminum dome tweeter coaxially with a 5.25" aluminum cone woofer. This driver configuration constrains the dispersion of the tweeter, allowing it to match the dispersion pattern of the 5.25" mid-woofer where the two meet at the 2.5kHz crossover.
More to the point of why I'm interested in the Q100: one might note that while some members of the Q lineup have been reviewed by several sources, particularly the flagship Q900, the entry level Q100 has largely been overlooked, and I think that's a shame. The Q900 has been documented to have multiple notable strengths, particularly good on axis frequency response and very smooth off axis response; conversely, the Q900 also has a couple of big flaws, namely untamed breakup of its large 8" mid-woofer and significant amounts of cabinet resonance. The flaws exhibited by the Q900 should largely be mitigated by the much smaller driver and compact cabinet utilized by the Q100, albeit at the expense of dynamic capability.
Now obviously with a single 5.25" driver handling frequencies below 2,500Hz, the Q100 isn't going to compete with a speaker like the EMP Tek E55Ti in terms of dynamic capability; in fact the case is a bit worse than the nominal 5.25" woofer makes it sound given that a fair amount of real estate is taken up by the coaxial tweeter. In terms of actual available radiating area, the Q100 is probably a lot closer to a bookshelf speaker with a 4" woofer. While this makes the Q100's rated extension of 49Hz all that much more impressive, this presents a problem for those who like to push the volume a bit. Fortunately, it is possible to ameliorate this issue in two words: bass management. If you're willing to spend a few bucks on a subwoofer or two (say a pair of SVS SB-1000's), and cross a bit higher than the typically prescribed 80Hz, it's quite conceivable to end up with a high performance system that gives up next to nothing to a pair of Q900s.
Summary
If you just decided to skip to the end, suffice it to say I consider KEF's Q100 to be a worthy of a lot more attention than it gets from the press. We expect the bottom level bookshelf should share the bulk of its bigger brother's strengths without its glaring weaknesses. At the relatively modest price of $550, the Q100 has the potential to be a very strong value. So what do you guys think? Does anyone own a pair? Anybody considering buying a pair?
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Quick Specs:
Design: Two-way bass reflex
Drive units: 130mm (5.25in.) aluminum Uni-Q 25mm (1in.) vented aluminum dome HF
Frequency response ±3dB: 49Hz-40kHz
Crossover Frequency: 2.5kHz
Amplifier requirements: 10 - 100W
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 86dB
Maximum output (SPL): 107dB
Impedance: 8Ω
Weight: 5.9kg (13.0lbs)
Dimensions (H x W x D): 300 x 180 x 272 mm (11.8 x 7.1 x 10.7 in.)